A secret British passion for yet another aspect of Scandinavian culture is revealed today.

After flat-pack furniture, meatballs and dark crime thrillers, it turns out we share a powerful love of ‘hygge’ too.

New research shows that while many of us may be unfamiliar with the meaning of the Danish word hygge – less than a quarter (22 per cent) of those surveyed said they understood it – the Brits really do grasp the concept, even if they don’t realise it.

Hygge centres on the simple things that make us feel cosy and content. Although there is no English translation, UK homeowners are more tuned in than they know, with almost all respondents (98 per cent) saying that they feel their home has an impact on their sense of wellbeing.

The survey by Everest Home Improvements shows that the simple things work well for us too. More than a third of those questioned (38 per cent) say that nice scents create a feeling of hygge in their...